Investigation continues into New Milford house fire

She and her husband, Eli Noam, also a professor in New York City, moved to property that includes an island in the Housatonic River, off Kent Road on the northern part of Route 7, over the summer.

In addition to a main house, the island held the four-room cabin and a tool shed, which also burned.

Strossen said her immediate fear was whether anyone was injured, or if the fire had spread to their house, which is about 150 feet away.

The cabin was built in the early 1900s, prior to the large house, which was rebuilt 20 years ago after it was destroyed by fire.

The house is elevated and has a picturesque view of the river near Boardman Bridge.

"It's a spectacular house," Strossen said, noting it resembles a Frank Lloyd Wright design, with three large open rooms. "It's not a very practical house, but we adore it. It's fabulous."

The couple's carpenter, Rocco DeLeo, had been in the cabin earlier in the afternoon to make repairs -- the couple intended to use it for a guest house -- but left before flames erupted. His tools in the building were destroyed.

"I'm still in a bit of a state of shock, but I always see the glass half-full," said Strossen, who only a week ago finished her 17-year tenure as president of the American Civil Liberties Union.

On Wednesday morning, she was at her New York City apartment preparing to teach an afternoon class. "I'm just so happy there was no injury to anybody, especially firefighters.

"And secondly, there was no damage to the house we occupy or to the next-door neighbor's house. I'm happy it didn't spread.''

The couple stayed in the main house only a few days ago.

Fire Marshal Karen Alward was sifting through the rubble Wednesday morning to determine the cause of the cabin fire. Two possibilities are accident or arson.

Alward said she is reviewing what kind of power the cabin used and who might have been around when the fire began.

The fire was reported about 5:15 p.m., and Water Witch Hose Co. firefighters arrived to find the cabin completely engulfed in flames.

To reach it, firefighters stretched 700 yards of hose down the couple's driveway and over a wooden bridge to the island.

Tankers from several other volunteer companies dumped water into a portable pond set up in the middle of Route 7.

Complicating firefighters' efforts were sparking live electrical wires and a burning propane tank near the cabin.

Strossen said she and Noam have not yet discussed whether they will rebuild, and she remained philosophical about the loss.

"I'm old enough that if it's not a matter of life or health, I realize things could be much worse," she said. "I'm painfully aware of people who suffer much worse, and so I'm trying to keep it in perspective."